World War II transforms the nation as well as the Forest Service. The agency shifts from a stewardship role of caring for the land to the role of production, fulfilling postwar demands. The multiple-use concept is put into action, and conflicts develop among competing interests.In subsequent years, with a more outspoken public and increased environmental activism challenging the interests of logging and ranching communities, the Forest Service finds it difficult to determine the greatest good. A new scientific understanding of ecosystems helps form a vision for public land management that continues to evolve and guide the Forest Service. Rich in visual imagery and featuring an original music score by Lance Bendiksen, The Greatest Good takes viewers on a journey as compelling as it is uniquely American.